Sunday, May 30, 2010

Section 20(c) read as under:
"(c) the cause of action, whole or in part arises."
A bare reading of this provision leaves no room for any doubt that the present suit for injunction filed at this Court lies within its jurisdiction as the cause of action has arisen wholly or partly within the local limits of the same. No doubt, Section 20 has been codified for the purpose that the matter be tried as near as possible so that the defendant is not put to any inconvenience as regards expenses of travelling from long distances in order to defend himself. In the present case, according to the plaintiff company the suit is maintainable since a part of cause of action had accrued within the territorial jurisdiction of Delhi courts on the ground that the defendant is carrying on its business in Delhi, the defendant has issued a news article in the Delhi edition of Times of India, the defendant has a factory at Shivaji Marg, New Delhi and the defendant No. 3 who has been impleaded also resides in Delhi. It is no doubt true that the suit could have been instituted in Mumbai itself where the defendant has its registered office, but this fact however does not take away the right of the plaintiff to file its suit in this court as part of the cause of action has arisen here. In the present case it is specifically alleged by the plaintiff company that the plaintiffs rights have been violated in Delhi. Learned counsel has also argued that by means of the notice sent by defendant No. 1 the plaintiff has been threatened in Delhi, therefore, at the prima facie stage this Court is of the considered view that this court has jurisdiction to entertain the present suit.